Indiana Pacers vs Philadelphia 76ers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 25/01/2024, 03:25  by Joseph King | Modified on 25/01/2024 at 11:00 in NBA Prediction

An intriguing Eastern Conference clash on Thursday’s NBA slate sees the seventh-place Indiana Pacers hosting the third-placed Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers will be looking to put an end to an ugly stretch of form which has seen them lose the last three in a row and five of the last six overall. The losing run has dropped Indiana’s record to 24-20 on the season which puts them even with the Heat in sixth but trailing the fifth-placed Knicks by three games. The main reason for the Pacers’ dip in results is directly tied to the absence of all-pro point guard Tyrese Haliburton who has missed seven of the team’s last eight games with a hamstring injury. Altogether, Haliburton has missed 10 games for the Pacers this season in which Indiana has gone 4-6. Most concerningly is the massive dip the offense takes from a league-best 127.4 points per game with the 24-year-old on the court to 115.4 points per game with him off.

The 76ers continue their pursuit of the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the conference who they now trial by four games. Philly has strung together six consecutive wins and come into this one as the road favorites for their seventh. Their most recent result was a 133-123 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, increasing their record to 29-13 on the year. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid made the headlines by putting up an absurd 70 points while grabbing 18 rebounds in one of the most dominant big man performances in NBA history. Embiid is the league’s leading scorer in the 2023/24 season with a 36.1 points per game average. Philly currently ranks third in adjusted net rating and are one of four teams to rank in the top 10 in both adjusted offensive and defensive rating.